Letters to the Editor
Monday, September 9, 1996
Mililani shootings could be
wake-up call for Christians
As a Christian, I grieved over the Christians who were victims in the Mililani shootings. I believe this is a wake-up call for all Christians and everyone else to seek ways to resolve our indifferences and conflicts in our families, churches, neighborhoods and work places.
Many people do not know that the Bible scripture in Matthew following "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is not to repay with evil.
Jesus said to love and pray for those who hate or dislike you. If someone strikes, sues, forces you to go with him, asks or borrows from you, you should turn the other cheek, let him have, go with him, give to him, and do not turn away from him.
Jesus emphasized to turn away from anger and revenge; instead, to be kind, patient, self-controlled, forgiving and loving.
If all of us keep on expressing this kind of love to one another, in the end, love will conquer all.
Caroline Morioka
Pearl City
There's no place for kids
in overdeveloped Waikiki
Am I the only person who has noticed that the new convention center building is really, really, BIG?
If this building and the nearby Landmark condominium are examples of "redevelopment," where are the children who are growing up in Waikiki going to play?
Beverly Kai
Convention Center means
more traffic problems
Over the past few months I have observed the construction of the convention center into the huge structure that its developers and planners have envisioned. In the future, it will provide floor space for large gatherings.
But like the problems of continuous growth here in Hawaii, the transportation needs of the convention center -- of moving masses of people safely and in a timely fashion -- have not been properly addressed.
Any solutions dealing with mass transportation by the use of roadways is a coconut shell game.
The federal, state and city governments, in one uncanny political moment of Hawaii history, allowed the City Council the choice of jumping ahead of our growing mass transportation problem on Oahu. But in September 1993, the go-ahead for a rail system was turned down by the Council.
After the convention center's opening celebrations, the cheering will end. That's when many of us on Oahu will experience greater vehicular traffic.
Hopefully, the City Council members who voted against rail will be implementing their mass transit plans soon to relieve this future concern.
Dennis T. Kido
Kailua
Hawaiian singer gives gift
of aloha to crime victims
On Sept. 1, on our way to one of Israel Kamakawiwoole's relatives' house, we were sitting at a red light near Aloha Stadium, when Mrs. Kamakawiwoole started honking her horn. It took me several seconds to direct my attention to an incident taking place right outside the housing area.
Two young Japanese female tourists were trying to keep their purse from being stolen by a young local boy, who finally won out and took off with the purse.
Upon finding that one of the girls had lost $200, Israel insisted on replacing the money. He never said anything about them repaying him when they got back to Nagoya, Japan. It was an unconditional gift.
These girls will probably never come back to Hawaii. But while the purse-snatching is something they won't forget, I hope Israel's generosity is the memory that also goes with them.
Israel acted for the pure joy of being able to help another human being -- without any reservation or wanting anything in return.
Hawaii is not the place that it used to be, but there are still people like Israel and his family, who do their part to keep alive the spirit of aloha.
Bill Kizer
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